Portable batcher



May 19, 1931. c. s. JOHNSON PORTABLE BATCHER 2 sheets-sheet 1 Fili-2d July 25. 1930 wir.

MMM

May 19, 1931. c. s. JOHNSON PORTABLE BATCHER Filed July 23. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Msy 1e, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application led July 23, 1980. Serial No. 470,003.

On large concrete construction jobs it is usual to dprovide a large overhead bln to contain san gravel or other aggregates, together with aV hopper supported elow the bln in '5 position to receive a charge of aggregates, said ho per being employed to measure the batch of) aggregates by the volumetric or the avimetric method. On comparatively small Jobs, as, for example, those involving the construction of culverts, small bridges, curbs, gutters, etc., the expense of providing and erecting an overhead bin and batcher is prohibitive, consequently it is the usual practice to dump the ag egates on the ground and prepare batches dy shoveling the aggreates from the pile on e ground into a wheelarrow, the wheelbarrow being commonly em loyed to measure the batch by volume.

Thls method of preparing batches of aggregates is subject to serious maccuracies.

The present invention relates to the provision of a hatching apparatus which shall be s'uiliciently inexpensive and so readily port-- able that it shall be well adapted for use on relativel small concrete construction Jobs; which s all be sufficiently low so that the laborer can shovel aggregates into the hopper without excessive e ort; which shall permit of weighing each batch; and which shall be so proportioned that a wheelbarrow may be conveniently ositioned beneath the hopper to receive the atch.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a batcher embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. l"L is a fra ental sectional view.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the method of use.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the scale dial.

The embodiment herein shown of the invention comprises a rigid framework 1 which, as viewed in top plan, is of approximately triangular form. The framework 1 is supported upon three legs located at the angles of the framework, the two legs 2 at the front side of the framework being provided with su porting wheels 3 and the rear leg 4 having a het 5. The u per side of the framework 1 is covered by a p ate 6 having a circular opening 7 therein. The opening 7 is defined by a ((ipwnwi'adly extending annular flange 8 A hopper 9 of generall frusto-conical form is supported within t e framework 1 with the larger upper end of the hop er near the top plate 6 and surrounding and) spaced away from the annular flange 8. The hopper is supported so as to constitute the scale pan. of a weighing scale. It may be supported in the conventional or any preferred manner, and may be connected by means including a chain 12 to a scale beam 13 which is pivotall suported at 14 within a scale casing 15. he casing 15 is secured to the forward side of the framework 1 above the plane of the plate 6 and thus is at a convenient height for manual adjustment of the weighing mechanism. The scale beam 13 is connected to a pointer 16 which is arranged to swin past an arcuate dial 17, the dial being enc osed Within a housing 18 which is glazed on vopposite sides so that the position of the pointer may be noted from either the front or the rear side of the apparatus. Said housing is located upon one end of the casing 15, an thus is at a convenient height for noting the weight indication.

Preferably, the front side of the scale casing 15 is arranged to be closed by means of a cover 19 which is pivoted to swing on a horizontal axis into the open position shown in Fi s. 1 and 3.

or convenience in setting the batcher in horizontal position, I provide suitable means, as, for example, a pendulum 2O pivoted at 21 to the normally inner side of the cover 19, the lower end of said pendulum being arranged to swing above a part 22 having a mark thereon to indicate the horizontal position of the batcher. The pendulum 20 hangs freely within a confining e e 23.

In the lower end o the hopper is a circular discharge opening 24. This. o ening is arranged to be closed by means o a horizontal gate 25 which is pivoted at 26. The end of the gate opposite to the pivoted end is slidably supported upon a triangular frame 27 which is attached to the hopper. Rigid with the gate 25 is a handle 28 that extends to- 109 Vso ward the front of the batcher into position to be convenienly operated by a workman standing at or near the front of the machine, as indicated in 3. In all positions of the ate, the free en thereof is supported upon t e triangular frame 27 against the pressure of the material resting on the gate.

The batcher is of such height that a workman shall be able to shovel material from ofi' the ound and into the hopper with minimum e. ort, a height of forty-two inches to the to plate 6 being a convenient height. Since t e hopper is intended to discharge into a wheelbarrow of the usual capacity, it 'is referabl made to hold four cubic feet or our hun red pounds of aggregates. There is suiiicient clearance, as, or example, twenty-six inches, under the hopper to accommodate a standard wheelbarrow. The distance between the legs 2 is suiiicient so that a wheelbarrow may be slid therebetween, so as to position the center of the wheelbarrow under the discharge opening 24. When thus positioned, the handles of the wheelbarrow project suiiiciently beyond the batcher to points where they can be conveniently grasped by the workman.

In use, the batcher is caused to stand level by shoveling a little sand or gravel under one of the legs 2 and 4. The gate 25 bein 1n closed position, the workman slides a w eel barrow between the legs 2 and proceeds to shovel aggregates into the hopper. As the hop er .is being filled, the workman lances at tliie pointer 16 so as to know when t e correct weight of material has been placed 1n the hopper. The gate 25 is then opened to allow they contents of the hopper to drop into the wheelbarrow.

It will be seen that the batcher is so light that it may be readily moved forward as the stock pile recedes due to consumption of material so as always to be within convenient distance from the point from which the workman is shoveling. It is suiiiciently light so that two men can easily place it upon or remove it from a motor truck or other vehicle of transportation. The use of three supporting legs facilitates leveling and obviates the torsional stresses that would arise in the use of four supports.

I claim as my invention:

1. A portable batcher for wei hing a batch and discharging it into a wheel arrow, comprising a supporting frame, legs upon which said frame 1s mounted for convenient vmovement and leveling and between two of which a wheelbarrow may be slid with the handles of the wheelbarrow projecting beyond one end of said frame, a hopper suspended in said frame in position to be directl abovev the center of a wheelbarrow inserted etween said legs, a weighing scale mechanism connected to said hopper and mounted upon that end of said frame beyond which the handles of the wheelbarrow project,a te for conf trolling the discharge from the opper and a handle for operating said gate sa d handle projecting through the space bet two legs.

2. A portable batcher for wei hing a batch and discharging it into a wheel rrow, comprising a supporting frame, legs upon which said frame 1s mounted for convement movement and leveling and between two of which 1 weon said a wheelbarrow may be slid with the handles of the wheelbarow projecting beyondy one end of said frame, a hopper suspended in said frame in position to 'schar e into a wheelbarrow inserted between said legs, a weighing scale mechanism connected to said ho per and mounted u on said frame, a ivoted orizontally mova le gate for contro ling the dis char e from the hop er, and a support upon whic the free end o the gate rests in all positions of the gate.

3. A portable batcher for wei hing a batch and discharging it into a wheelarrow, comprising a supporting frame, legs upon which the lframe is mounted for convement movement and leveling and between two of which a wheelbarrow may be slid, a late closing the upper side of said frame and avin an opening into which material may be s oveled, a hopper suspended in said frame directly below said opening and above the center of a wheelbarrow inserted between said legs, a' scale casing located at one end of said frame and projecting above the plane of said plate, and weighing mechanism in said casing and connected to said hopper.

4. A portable batcher com rising'a supporting frame, legs upon whic said frame is mounted for convenient movement and leveling, a hopper suspended in said framework, and a weighing scale mechanism connected to said hopper and mounted upon one end of said framework, said mechanism including a dial, a pointer, and a housing for said dial and pointer, said housing being glazed on opposite sides and being located above the remainder of the batcher.

' 5. A portable batcher comprising a trian gular supporting frame, three legs, one at each angle of the frame, upon which said frame is mounted for convenient movement and leveling, a hopper suspended in said frame, a weighing scale mechanism connected to said hopper and mounted u on one end of said frame, and means at sai end of the frame for controlling the discharge from the ho per.

n testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

, CHARLES S. JOHNSON. 

